Severe crushing back pain, numbness in legs and arms and hands after three spinal surgeries

Severe crushing back pain, numbness in legs and arms and hands after three spinal surgeries; does chiropractic have a role to play?

I have had 3 surgeries on my back to date. I suffer now from what I can only describe as crushing back pain that is in my lower thoracic to upper lumbar regions.

This pain extends up into my neck and shoulders radiating down my arms causing headaches, neck stiffness, and numbness in my hands and fingers.

My pain also radiates downward with the continued crushing sensation into both hips and across my pelvic region. This pain radiates into my groin on both sides and down both legs with searing, burning pain, and scattered numbness in both legs and feet.

I am in constant pain that causes me to limp on ambulation and keeps me awake at night. Pain medication is not helping at this point and there are many times when the pain is so severe it causes nausea and vomiting. Along with the crushing pain I also have sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes in pretty regular intervals of about 5 times per hour lasting for anywhere from 5-10 minutes. I am exhausted in every sense of the word and I just want the pain to become tolerable.

I am also suffering from depression as a result of this chronic pain that has just been getting steadily worse since 2004. My first surgery was a spinal fusion of L5-S1 with titanium cages in 2004. My second surgery was a discectomy, laminectomy, foramenotomy, and hemictomy of L1-L5 in 2013.

My third surgery was a foramenotomy and hemiectomy of L1-L5 in 2015. What can be the underlying cause of all of this as I am fairly young, 39 now, to have so many back problems? What can I do to help ease the pain so that I can at least sleep at night and sit at my desk for work without crying because of the pain? Any help and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your time and consideration on these issues!

Gosh David, this is simply awful, and especially at 39. What is the surgeon's response?

You make no mention of doing any exercises, and here I think you need professional advice from someone on the ground. At chiropractic help, in the navigation bar you'll find some lumbar exercises, but really you need someone to supervise them for you, check that they are appropriate and that you're doing them correctly. Do them every morning before getting out of bed, and then as often as you can. They only take a couple minutes, literally.

Then I would consider swimming every day, initially just backstroke. Because it's not weightbearing, it's a good option, though boring I must concede, but that should not be an issue for you in such dire straights.

Then I would consider inversion traction, but again you need someone to supervise it, especially in the early stages; until you've got the settings correct, that's important, as you can get stuck upside down. And it might aggravate rather than help. But worth the risk trying, in my opinion. See if you can find a gym with a pool and inversion traction. Someone else must fit the clamps around your ankles; don't do it yourself.

If you were coming to me I'd start with gentle McManis traction for a few weeks to see what could be achieved.

Start doing some homework; ask friends, family, colleagues and your doctor for the name of an experienced chiropractor who is willing to take on such a tough case. Go for an initial consultation, examination and report of findings with no treatment; what's your gut feel?

I really don't know whether chiropractic has anything to offer, but you're obviously fed up with medicine; I think it's worth a try if you can find the right person.

A gentle massage with you lying on your side, or on a large cushion but not flat on your abdomen is worth a thought; several times a week.

It's time for you to help yourself, and this enquiry is the start; keep up the momentum and I wish you every strength and encouragement. Sitting alas is often the greatest enemy of the lower back.

Ask about Maigne's syndrome; it's an upper lumbar facet syndrome that radiates to the buttock and groin. Sacroiliac and hip joint conditions also cause groin pain.

Let me know how you get on; I hope this contributes.

Dr B

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